Hello all,first time post..sorry it is a question,i have a 1994 thomas t173hl with a kubota v2203e that i pulled out needs rebuild,i bought a v2203di off ebay was on a generator, swapping everything over im concerned about drilling the hole in the block for the dipstick tube..any ideas on exact size bit and or type to drill cast iron..i have 1 or 2 other hangups but i thought i might start with this as i can install the oil pan and mounts one that is drilled...thank you for reading look forward to being a part of this forum
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I have the bit size written down in the garage, I'll get it for you tomorrow. I've drilled a bunch of them, you just need to keep your angle right and drill straight. Sometime easier said than down. I drill them to fit a dip stick out of a 743 Bobcat. ALSO, as the drill bit travels through the final portion of the hole it will grab! There comes a point as it travels through the block where it penetrates and then hits on only one side, this causes it to grab. Luckily the metal is fairly soft so you can back the bit out, run the drill at full speed, and easy down through the remainder of the metal. Be careful not to wallow the hole out.

 

Hello kubota man,
Thank you for reading and taking time to reply ..
I drilled the hole already used a 15/32 bit it fit well in the existing hole of the old block ever so slightly smaller,however since the rubber dipstick tube seal was o
ld i thought it would be fine for what i had or a new sleeve..

What i did to get the proper angle was insert the drill bit in the donor motor measure the angle off the block and do my best to eye up my hold on the bit angle worked perfect with some light fresh oil and brand new bit..

As far as breaking through,your dead on with that..i backed off and full speed the drill and moved very slowly allowing the bit to work...

All the time,i had a shop vac tube,inside the engine to pick up any debris falling into the block,it work flawless, after pulling out the bit,the vac actually sucked the shaving from the outside the hole thru the hole into the vac tube that was setup in the engine..

De greased the hole with some carb cleaner..allow to dry,put a bit of black rtv on the rubber sleave on the dip stick tube,let it gel up a bit..went in nice and snug,bolted the bracket let sit over night to dry,dlipped it over make sure it was clean wich it was perfect with that shop vac,not a crumb left behind..then i bloted up the pan...its ready to go in today..ill post some pics of the job...

Thanks again,i always just go ahead and figure stuff out as i do the job any job actually,but i figure there was a guy like you out there that did a bunch to give me some insight...i just had to move on it and get it back on the job..this wheel barrel crap is making me broke..